As Residents Reach Out for Help, the Red Cross Delivers

After Tropical Storm Irene struck Connecticut on Aug. 28, destroying hundreds of homes, flooding entire neighborhoods and leaving over 700,000 homes without power, many state residents - some of them displaced or lacking even basic human necessities - reached out for help.

What they found, and what thousands of victims of countless natural disasters have found when they were most in need of care, compassion and a helping hand was the tireless support and service of the Red Cross.

A week before Irene made landfall in Connecticut, Red Cross volunteers, organized out of the Connecticut chapter office in Farmington, began preparing for the fallout by stockpiling supplies like food, water, blankets and medical supplies and setting up numerous “personal care shelters” across the state.

Simultaneously, Red Cross volunteers from across the country were making their way to Connecticut from as far away as California in emergency response vehicles. After the storm hit, those vehicles were put to use to deliver supplies, as mobile feeding units or to take displaced residents to shelters.

According to Red Cross Chief Communication Officer, Paul Shipman, over 90 “personal care shelters” were established across the state in the week before and immediately after Tropical Storm Irene struck. At the shelters, residents were able to find basic necessities like water, food, showers, and electricity which they could use to charge cell phones and other devices.

In the week following Tropical Storm Irene, Shipman estimates that Red Cross shelters across the state gave out well over 300,000 meals and over a million bottles of water. Volunteers also distributed rakes, buckets, shovels and other equipment as well as an invaluable service - often overlooked in the face of disaster - emotional support.

“One of the most important things we can offer people in that situation is compassion and a sympathetic ear,” Shipman said. “It’s important for them to know that we are there to help them, not just with physical things, but to be an emotional support system for people who in some cases may have lost everything.”

As Connecticut homes gradually regained power and their usual sources of food and water were restored, the Red Cross began working on the long-term phase of its relief efforts.

As they entered the long-term phase of disaster relief, Red Cross case workers began meeting with affected families across the state in order to assess their needs, help them obtain pertinent documents, fill out paper work and navigate the numerous aid options available from a number of organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Although they do receive funds from the federal government, according to Shipman, the Red Cross is primarily run on private donations from individuals. Donations which Shipman said "end up saving lives."

“We are very fortunate that people have been stepping up, not just in Connecticut, but across New England and the northeast,” Shipman said. “It costs millions of dollars to put together a response like this. We just hope people will continue to show us that kind of support so we can be ready for whatever happens next.”

While he is quick to give credit to private donors, Shipman said the heart of the Red Cross is the selfless work of the volunteers.

“I'm amazed everyday at the work they do,” he said. “The word that applies, is ‘I'm honored’ to work with them. They do it because they’re called to it, because there's nothing more rewarding than to help a person in need.”